April 2019 - James Scott Farrin

The Blast That Shook Downtown Durham

On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, 911 received a call from a woman who reported smelling “a very strong gas smell” around the Durham School of Arts at around 9:11 a.m.

Firefighters were dispatched to the area at 9:13 a.m. to investigate, but reported that they could not confirm its source.

At 9:37 a.m., a contractor called 911 to report that they had hit “a gas service line.” In a released audio clip of the 911 call, the contractor describes how they had hit a gas line and that they were waiting for the gas company to come turn off the gas. Firefighters and first responders started evacuating people inside the buildings.

At around 10:06 a.m., a building in the popular Brightleaf District exploded. The resulting blast radius could be heard and felt throughout downtown Durham, including the James Scott Farrin headquarters. The entire building shook, windows rattled, and the lights flickered. As co-workers anxiously left their cubicles and offices looking for a cause, news started to trickle in that a building had exploded and collapsed a mile away.

“We looked out the windows and saw the giant black tower of smoke rising above the skyline,” one Farrin employee said.

Chaos and Panic in Downtown Durham

Businesses near the blast suffered severe damages. People in nearby offices or inside their cars when the blast occurred were injured by shrapnel and glass. As people ran away in terror, some ran into the chaos to help the injured. Images and videos started streaming onto social media. Over two dozen people were injured, and one person tragically died. Some remained in the hospital a week later in serious condition.

Durham Community Rallies Around Blast Victims

As authorities continue to investigate the cause of the blast, many in the community are reaching out to the victims to see how they can help. With damages set to exceed $100 million in total, those affected have to assess how much they lost and eventually, rebuild and repair.

Damages are wide-ranging and some may take months or years to rectify. Many people were physically injured, some lost their businesses and livelihoods, many no longer have a place to work or live, and vehicles were severely damaged.

James Scott Farrin — Committed to Helping Victims of the Durham Gas Explosion

Our firm is ready to lend a legal hand to those affected by the explosion. We have an attorney who volunteered to help victims of 9/11.³ We also have an attorney that represented victims of the 2009 Garner ConAgra plant explosion, and one that represented those affected by the 2017 Hatteras Bridge blackout that caused hundreds of businesses to lose revenue at the height of the summer season. Our lawyers have handled other fire/explosion personal injury and loss of business cases.

CBS17 news and other news outlets interviewed Farrin attorney Gary Jackson about the legal options for those impacted. Gary has over 30 years of legal experience, and he believes the best outcome for all involved is for the insurance companies and those parties responsible to step up to the plate. Click on the image below to watch the interview:

Attorney Gary Jackson on CBS17 news discussing the Durham explosion

If you want help or guidance in putting together your claim, AND discussing whether or not you need an attorney to represent you, we would be happy to talk with you. Contact us here or call us at 1-866-900-7078.

We can lay out all of your options for you and help you assess the full extent of damages you may be owed along with any potential claims.
³Results obtained prior to joining the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

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One minute, you’re driving along the highway on your daily commute to work. The next, you’re laying roadside after being tossed from your vehicle in a high-impact collision. Your body lies motionless. Or does it?

A lot can happen to your body in a short period of time during a car crash. Much of it you may not even be aware of. Many assume that the effects of a car crash on the human body are only those you can see externally, but in reality there’s an internal crash of your body’s organs that can be just as debilitating.

Let’s break down the anatomy of a car crash…

Step 1: Metal Hits Metal

Depending on the vehicles involved and the nature of the collision, this can come in many different forms. The severity of damages to the car will ultimately depend on the speed and size of the involved vehicles.

Cars are built to take on collisions and to try to protect drivers and passengers as much as possible. The nose of the car is often referred to as the “crumple zone” and is designed to absorb some of the shock and energy from a crash. However, there is only so much your vehicle can shield you from…

Step 2: Body Hits Metal

After the car has taken all it can, the body will start to feel the effects of the crash. This stage is the one that you will feel directly. The kinetic energy unabsorbed by your car’s exterior will now transfer to your body and force it into motion.

The motion could be restrained by a seatbelt or airbag, or the force could cause your body to collide with other parts of the car – often the window or steering wheel. In serious incidents, the body could be entirely ejected from the vehicle, leading to the next stage of the collision. However, even if the movement is controlled by safety features, further injuries are still possible.

Step 3: Internal Organs Keep Moving

The third step in the anatomy of a car crash is the calm after the storm. When your body has finally come to rest after a crash, you may think you are lying very still. But you are not.

Your internal organs continue to bump into each other even after you have stopped moving.

We’ve all learned Newton’s law that “an object at motion tends to stay in motion.” This law is especially applicable to human bodies when suddenly jolted into high motion situations. Despite the fact that there is only so far your physical body can be tossed, the internal organs will continue to move toward the point of impact until all energy is absorbed.

During a car wreck, the human body naturally goes into an instinctive survival mode. Both adrenaline and endorphins are released as a reaction to the shock. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that act as natural pain relievers when released. That’s why you may not feel the internal pain immediately.

In other words, the effects of a car crash on the human body can include your body convincing you that you’re OK.

Even if a body appears to have escaped a car crash uninjured, there’s a strong possibility that internal organs could be torn, bruised, or bleeding.

NHTSA found that seat belts save about 15,000 lives, while frontal air bags save almost 2,000 more each year on average. Call 1-866-900-7078 if you’ve been injured in a wreck that was not your fault.

How to Stay Safe

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that seat belts save about 15,000 lives each year. Frontal air bags save almost 2,000 more each year on average.

While car crashes can be unpredictable and unavoidable, it is important to take the necessary precautions to limit the injuries, both internal and external, caused by a car wreck. Buckle up and familiarize yourself with the proper use of an airbag to try to lessen the severity of any potential injuries.

Finally, be alert while on the roads.

North Carolina Personal Injury Attorneys Evaluate Your Case for FREE

If you have been in an auto accident, don’t wreck twice. The car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin can fight for you and try to get you the maximum compensation you potentially deserve. Call us at 1-866-900-7078 or contact us online.

P.S. Here are a few good reasons why to choose our car accident attorneys

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